A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

Not that God wants Evidences of our Sincerity, but he will have all the World know we have not been unfruitful. A Man that expecteth to be posed, is preparing to answer, and would give something to know the Questions aforehand. Christ hath told us what are the Questions upon which we shall be examined and taxed at the Day of Judgment; he will say, Have you fed and clothed my People? have you ministered to their Necessities? have you relieved them with spiritual Counsel and Admonition? have you been good, holy and just? Therefore let us provide to give an Answer, that we might not be ⟨p. 187⟩ashamed at the last Day. Thus this Zeal for good Works hath the place and room of a Witness; to God, as the Rule and Measure of his Process; to our selves, as the ground of our Assurance; and to the World, as the great vindication of the Honour of our Profession.

Not that God wants Evidences of our Sincerity, but he will have all the World know we have not been unfruitful. A Man that expecteth to be posed, is preparing to answer, and would give somethink to know the Questions aforehand. Christ hath told us what are the Questions upon which we shall be examined and taxed at the Day of Judgment; he will say, Have you fed and clothed my People? have you ministred to their Necessities? have you relieved them with spiritual Counsel and Admonition? have you been good, holy and just? Therefore let us provide to give an Answer, that we might not be ⟨p. 187⟩ashamed at the last Day. Thus this Zeal for good Works hath the place and room of a Witness; to God, as the Rule and Measure of his Process; to our selves, as the ground of our Assurance; and to the World, as the great vindication of the Honour of our Profession.

2. It is a Fruit of Christ's Death; partly by way of Obligation, for certainly God hath not been at all this cost and labour for nothing; he did not project the sending of Christ, and Jesus Christ did not so give up himself in the Work of Redemption for nothing, but to inflame us to a great height of Piety. They that live at a low rate of Holiness, cross and disgrace the whole Design of the Gospel; they are not apprehensive of the Love of God in giving Christ, nor the Love of Christ in giving himself. Our Redemption was carried on in such a way, not only that the Comfort, but also the Duty of the Creature might be raised to the highest. Partly again, as Christ hath purchased the Gift of the Spirit to fit us for good Works, yea to make us zealous in them;